A faction of the National Patriotic Party (NPP) loyal to embattled Chairman James Biney has expelled party Standard Bearer and Vice President of the Republic of Liberia Madam Jewel Howard Taylor.
“That partisans Jewel Howard Taylor and John Gray are hereby expelled from the Party for willfully, grossly and knowingly violating several provisions of the party’s constitution in keeping with section 6.1 of the by-laws and constitution of the party,” the NPP’s resolution dated 1 December says.
The Biney faction of the NPP expelled Madam Taylor and Mr. Gray, also a former Vice President of Liberia, from the party on allegations of taking the NPP to court, grossly violating the party’s constitution and bringing it to public disrepute.
Madam Taylor’s estranged husband, now imprisoned former President Charles Ghankay Taylor led the NPP to victory in a 1997 election at the end of Liberia’s brutal civil war in which Mr. Taylor controlled rebel faction National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) in the 90s.
She has been the NPP’s standard bearer without contesting the presidency in past elections before she was picked as President George Manneh Weah’s running mate in 2017 on a coalition ticket comprising the NPP, Weah’s Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and former House Speaker Alex Tyler’s Liberian People Democratic Party (LPDP) and won.
Some skeptics think that the process of Madam Taylor and Mr. Gray’s expulsion was stage managed by officials of the Biney faction of the NPP, citing the alleged absence of quorum.The NPP is believed to have proceeded in the absence of quorum and many of the key branded faces of the party were never seen at the day – long extraordinary session during which the decision was taken at Bentol.
According to the NPP Constitution, there should be roll call of executive committee members to establish legality of the event.But the likes of NPP chairman emeritus Chief Cyril Allen, Senators Sando Johnson, H. Dan Morais and Standard Bearer Jewel Howard Taylor were absent perpetually.
Additionally, no senior member of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) of which the NPP is a part, had shown up for the sitting.
Prior to the decision, embattled Chairman Biney incited partisans to vote for the expulsion on grounds that Madam Taylor’s intention of the NPP is to destroy it.Program moderator Mr. Eric Kennedy and National Treasurer Mr. Rudolph Cooper were allegedly guiding NPP partisans on how to vote and how to debate the expulsion argument.
Partisans were seen having consultations either with Kennedy or Cooper before being given the microphone to speak.The delegates also agreed that a communication be sent to President George Manneh Weah, telling him to recall the two expelled persons from their governmental posts.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]
They also agreed that rivals members to James Biney who are occupying public offices be withdrawn from those offices and expelled. The delegates called on the party to ensure employment opportunities for members who are not in government.
Recently, NPP expelled Chairman James Biney for reportedly attempting to take the NPP to a meager with President Weah’s Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), a part of the Coalition arrangement that is in charge of government.
It is not yet known whether the National Elections Commission will organize the decision of the fractionized NPP partisans’ action as the decision was taken in violation of the NE’s guidelines for political parties here.
By the election commission guideline, all key decisions of a political party should be observed by official of the National Elections Commission, but the extraordinary session did not have observers from the electoral house.
While expelling Madam Taylor and Mr. Gray, the NPP faction says it resolves to accept the renewal of Bomi County Sen. Sando D. Johnson, Mr. Andrew Peters, Mr. Lawrence George and former Sen. Abel Massalley’s memberships for the sake of peace and harmony in the party.
The party mandates Biney to request the withdrawal of NPP officials that are serving in the CDC led – government who are bent on undermining the progress of the government, saying it will nominate new partisans to those positions.
By Bridgett Milton–Edited by Winston W. Parley
